The low-pressure rotor forging for the "Hualong One" self-developed million-kilowatt-class nuclear power steam turbine, jointly developed by China First Heavy Industries (CFHI), China Nuclear Power Engineering (CNPE), and Harbin Turbine Company (HTC), has successfully completed its evaluation and review. This marks the full realization of independent and controllable production for this product, significantly enhancing the self-sufficiency capability of China's nuclear power equipment industry chain.

As a core component of the conventional island equipment for the "Hualong One" million-kilowatt-class nuclear power unit, the integrated forged low-pressure rotor forging boasts advantages such as compact structure, short axial dimensions, good rigidity, and low stress. With its large tonnage, high precision, and extremely demanding operating conditions, it adheres to the highest standards in terms of material purity control, forging process, heat treatment quality, and non-destructive testing. For a long time, it has been a "bottleneck" problem in China's high-end heavy equipment sector. Reliance on imports not only hindered project schedules but also posed potential risks to the long-term safe operation of the equipment.

In 2024, CFHI, together with CNPE and HTC, established a special task force. Systematically reviewing industry experience, they spent two years completing a full-chain indigenous development from product design and process development to standard formulation and manufacturing acceptance. They successfully overcame challenges such as large-tonnage integrated forging, material homogenization, and matching key performance indicators, achieving localization of materials, processes, manufacturing, and testing standards. The forging's compositional uniformity, mechanical property fluctuation, grain size control, and non-destructive testing indicators are all superior to similar international products, reaching an internationally leading level. This breakthrough in the independent development of the low-pressure rotor forging effectively promotes technological upgrading in China's nuclear power industry and significantly enhances China's voice in relevant international fields.

Nuclear power, as a critical national asset, is founded on safety and self-reliance. The successful achievement of "independent and controllable" production for the self-developed million-kilowatt-class nuclear power steam turbine low-pressure rotor forging for "Hualong One" represents a solid breakthrough in the manufacturing capability of major national equipment. It also stands as an important testimony to the high-quality development of China's nuclear power industry and the strengthening of national energy security through self-reliance.